Students

MHHS8002 – Research Communications

2025 – Session 2, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Jennifer Rowland
jen.rowland@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit aims to equip you with skills to communicate research effectively, and with a heightened appreciation of the relationship between research communications and disciplinary knowledge creation. You will analyse, critique and practise academic communication conventions from different research genres in a variety of modes (written, oral and visual), across disciplines. You will develop communication skills to present a clear and coherent exposition of research concepts to a variety of audiences.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Explain the structure and style of various types of research communications for different audiences
  • ULO2: Critique research communication approaches used by various disciplines.
  • ULO3: Engage with feedback to enhance research communication practice
  • ULO4: Effectively utilise written, oral, and visual communications to disseminate research. 

General Assessment Information

Grade descriptors and other information concerning grading are contained in the Macquarie University Assessment Policy.

All final grades are determined by a grading committee, in accordance with the Macquarie University Assessment Policy, and are not the sole responsibility of the Unit Convenors.

Students will be awarded a final grade and a mark which must correspond to the grade descriptors specified in the Assessment Procedure (clause 127).

To pass this unit, students must demonstrate sufficient evidence of achievement of the learning outcomes, meet any ungraded requirements, and achieve a final mark of 50 or better.

Further details for each assessment task will be available on iLearn.

Late Submission

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55 pm. A one-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical concern.

For example:

Number of days (hours) late Total possible marks Deduction Raw mark Final mark
1 day (1-24 hours) 100 5 75 70
2 days (24-48 hours) 100 10 75 65
3 days (48-72 hours) 100 15 75 60
7 days (144-168 hours) 100 35 75 40
>7 days (>168 hours) 100 - 75 0

For any late submissions of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, and/or scheduled practical assessments/labs, students need to submit an application for Special Consideration.

Special Consideration

If you are unable to complete an assessment task on or by the specified date due to circumstances that are unexpected, unavoidable, significantly disruptive and beyond your control, you may apply for special consideration in accordance with the Special Consideration Policy. The application for Special Consideration must be lodged either before or no later than five (5) working days after the assessment task due date. All Special Consideration applications must be lodged online via the Service Connect portal and must include supporting documentary evidence.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Oral presentation, critical review and practice 45% No Week 13
Communicating research 40% No Week 6
Protocol for Systematic Review 15% No Week 9

Oral presentation, critical review and practice

Assessment Type 1: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 35 hours
Due: Week 13
Weighting: 45%

 

Review different oral presentations, compare and contrast their style/effectiveness. Present research in short talk.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain the structure and style of various types of research communications for different audiences
  • Critique research communication approaches used by various disciplines.
  • Engage with feedback to enhance research communication practice
  • Effectively utilise written, oral, and visual communications to disseminate research. 

Communicating research

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 45 hours
Due: Week 6
Weighting: 40%

 

Style review of research paper and essay presenting the work for a wider audience. 

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain the structure and style of various types of research communications for different audiences
  • Critique research communication approaches used by various disciplines.
  • Engage with feedback to enhance research communication practice

Protocol for Systematic Review

Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: Week 9
Weighting: 15%

Students will follow steps of systematic review preparation and reporting in order to prepare a protocol for a systematic review using the PRISMA-P Elaboration and Explanation Document.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain the structure and style of various types of research communications for different audiences
  • Engage with feedback to enhance research communication practice
  • Effectively utilise written, oral, and visual communications to disseminate research. 

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

As a student enrolled in this unit, you will engage in a range of online and face-to-face learning activities, including [choose from: readings, online modules, videos and lectures. Details can be found on the iLearn site for this unit.

Technology Used

Active participation in the learning activities throughout the unit will require students to have access to a tablet, laptop or similar device. Students who do not own their own laptop computer may borrow one from the university library.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Academic Success

Academic Success provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Changes since First Published

Date Description
02/07/2025 corrected weeks for tasks
29/06/2025 Amended AT2 due week to after the recess.
26/06/2025 assessment guidelines

Unit information based on version 2025.03 of the Handbook